NEW mum Julie Maitland yesterday told how she won a national weightlifting championship – when she was six months pregnant.

The mother-of-two stunned other competitors at the Scottish Kettlebell Lifting Open in April when she turned up sporting a pronounced baby bump.

Julie, 31, who wore a T-shirt with the words “Baby on Board” emblazoned across the front, shocked them even more when she won her category.

The superfit full-time mum, who gave birth to son James on July 26, said: “I knew I had a good chance of winning the women’s 16 kilo category but the other competitors thought there was no way I could win.

“I’m really proud of my title and it will be something to tell James about when he gets a bit older.”

Julie, who lives with partner Davie McConnachie, 35, in Larbert, near Falkirk, got medical advice before entering the competition.

She said: “I’ve been training five or six times a week for five years and midwives told me it would be dangerous for the baby if I stopped exercising as my body would go into shock and shut down.

“During the first trimester, I took it easy and, throughout the rest of my pregnancy, I made sure my heart rate did not go above a certain level and my temperature stayed steady. I never did anything that put my baby at risk.”

Julie, who also has a 21-month-old son, Lewis, added: “Kettlebell lifting is all about how many times you can lift the weight above your head in 10 minutes.

“My training ensured I had an easy and healthy pregnancy.”

Julie, who was back in the gym two days after James was born, is now training for the world championships in Milan in November.

Personal trainer David, who runs DMC Fitness gym in Glasgow, said: “I am so proud of Julie. She is a great mum and a brilliant kettlebell lifter.”